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6.5 PRC

Deadshot260

Private
Minuteman
Dec 30, 2017
12
2
Is anyone running a 6.5 PRC yet? If so, any feedback. My new one will be finished tomorrow. Built off of a 700 short mag,
 
I’m counting the days. I have 2 being built both w 1-7 twist.
 
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There is a Facebook forum w tons of good info.
 
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George and gang from Ga Precision hunted w that caliber this year. Ck out their Facebook page.
 
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The hornady stuff is surprisingly slow. Barely 50fps faster than a creedmoor. Shoots good though. Copper creeks loads spit them out around 3075-3150 though. They just weren’t amazingly consistent and they were on the hot side causing sticky bolt. This was all shot out of a seekins havak. Rifle is a friends who does not reload. I’d like to see what it could do loaded for properly.
 
The hornady stuff is surprisingly slow. Barely 50fps faster than a creedmoor. Shoots good though. Copper creeks loads spit them out around 3075-3150 though. They just weren’t amazingly consistent and they were on the hot side causing sticky bolt. This was all shot out of a seekins havak. Rifle is a friends who does not reload. I’d like to see what it could do loaded for properly.

What kind of accuracy are you seeing from your friend's rifle? I've been considering one as a light weight hunting rifle.
 
The hornady stuff is surprisingly slow. Barely 50fps faster than a creedmoor. Shoots good though. Copper creeks loads spit them out around 3075-3150 though. They just weren’t amazingly consistent and they were on the hot side causing sticky bolt. This was all shot out of a seekins havak. Rifle is a friends who does not reload. I’d like to see what it could do loaded for properly.
So is this 50 fps faster than factory ammo or is it 50 fps faster than someone's brothers cousins handloads out of a 30" barrel?
 
So is this 50 fps faster than factory ammo or is it 50 fps faster than someone's brothers cousins handloads out of a 30" barrel?
I've heard the factory 6.5 PRC ammo is around 50 fps faster than factory 6.5 CM ammo out of the same barrel length.

I've also heard that reloads net much more significant gains (200-300 fps).
 
I have both a 6.5cm and a 6.5prc. the 6.5cm is 24" barrel and shoots hornady factory 140gr ammo at 2688fps (i think this is a little slow as barrel isn't broken in yet)

6.5prc 147 factory horandy ammo is 2942 (barrel also is brand new with less than 50 rounds down it)

Unless you can get a 6.5cm to shoot a 147gr bullet at 2900fps then the PRC is much faster then 50 fps over 6.5cm. Also note that in my test the 6.5prc is shooting 147gr bullets, not 140. I have found not only to be accurate but with Horandy factory ammo i'm getting and SD of 15. Pretty good in my book.
 
I have both a 6.5cm and a 6.5prc. the 6.5cm is 24" barrel and shoots hornady factory 140gr ammo at 2688fps (i think this is a little slow as barrel isn't broken in yet)

6.5prc 147 factory horandy ammo is 2942 (barrel also is brand new with less than 50 rounds down it)

Unless you can get a 6.5cm to shoot a 147gr bullet at 2900fps then the PRC is much faster then 50 fps over 6.5cm. Also note that in my test the 6.5prc is shooting 147gr bullets, not 140. I have found not only to be accurate but with Horandy factory ammo i'm getting and SD of 15. Pretty good in my book.

How long is your PRC barrel?
 
I have both a 6.5cm and a 6.5prc. the 6.5cm is 24" barrel and shoots hornady factory 140gr ammo at 2688fps (i think this is a little slow as barrel isn't broken in yet)

6.5prc 147 factory horandy ammo is 2942 (barrel also is brand new with less than 50 rounds down it)

Unless you can get a 6.5cm to shoot a 147gr bullet at 2900fps then the PRC is much faster then 50 fps over 6.5cm. Also note that in my test the 6.5prc is shooting 147gr bullets, not 140. I have found not only to be accurate but with Horandy factory ammo i'm getting and SD of 15. Pretty good in my book.

Guess I should clarify 143's vs 147's since the 143 was what was mentioned when I responded. Did not try the 147's. 2942 is pretty quick. The 143's shot right at 2900 out of a 24" barrel over a magnetospeed. Had to plug 2875 as velocity in the calculator to make hits when we were shooting at 700 and 960yds. I can't speak for factory hornady Creedmoor ammo as I only handload. If you're shooting 140s below 2750 (in your case below 2700), i'd look at a new factory load or reloading. My creed in a 24" barrel shoots the 143gr at 2830 and my 260 barrel shot them at 2820 while not being close to max load. In 2 260s and 6 different creeds, i've never had an issue breaking 2800fps with 140-143gr bullets. Seeing 2900fps with the 143 was dissapointing from the factory load. Copper Creek showed the potential with them spitting them out at 3075 though. I had hoped to see it at least kiss 3k from hornady out of a 24" barrel.
 
I built mine on a short mag, used 300 wsm accurate mags. Works fine. Feeds fine without any alterations.
 
Mines done and ships next week. Went with a 23 finished length. I will be severely diapppinted if the factory 143’s shoot under 2900.

Would love to shoot the Copper Creek stuff but it seems to be a re-occurring theme with high ES/SD’s.
 
Sounds like you’re going to need to reload to reap its gains. I’ve got a 25” creed that will do 2915 with R26 and 147s.

That said the SAUM that I used to have would do 3200 easy with 140s, so loading for the PRC is f going to help it out.
 
I just built a 6.5 PRC with a 24” bartlein barrel and only got 2828fps with factory 147 ammo. Hoping I can reload over 3000fps...
 
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If you have to re-load to get the performance potential out of it, doesn't that cut down on the utility of the cartridge? That someone who doesn't want to reload can get factory ammo for the gun and run at the edge of the speed limit for PRS with a 6.5 bullet?. If you are going to reload, why not go with some other cartridge- it doesn't matter then if factory ammo is around?
 
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Other than factory ammo is there a good reason for the 6.5 PRC over the 6.5 RSAUM? My 6.5 RSAUM w/26" Bartlein 8.5 twist is pushing 147 ELD M's at 3,091 fps and there doesn't look to be a whole lot of difference in the two cases. It was extremely easy to load for and while I prefer the necked down & turned Norma brass, factory Hornady brass isn't bad.
 
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It’s not fair to compare factory loads at 58ksi to handloads at 70ksi.
 
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This is conflicting info. Guys on the 6.5 PRC Facebook Forum is reporting high velocity w the Hornady factory PRC ammo.
 
Im wondering if the your low velocity has something to do w the reamer that was used to cut your chambers???
 
Im sure its loaded very hot w select powders. i do the same w my 308 lol. Only way to find out is to shoot the factory in your rifle. Im waiting on my actions to come in.
 
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This is conflicting info. Guys on the 6.5 PRC Facebook Forum is reporting high velocity w the Hornady factory PRC ammo.
Which factory ammo? the 143 is what is being talked about as slow. Its a hunting load, advantage being that it would be faster than your typical creed. The 147 loads sound like they are pretty quick, haven't heard anyone here quote 140 speeds.
 
Factory Creedmoor is going to be slower than factory PRC. The chamber in your rifle will effect the velocity you get out of factory ammo. You can hot rod the Creedmoor, or you can hot rod the PRC. give the same pressure PRC wins. You can hot rod the SAUM and it it beats both of them. Performance at a cost of course. Otherwise I would be running a 50bmg necked down to 6.5mm.
 
Factory Creedmoor is going to be slower than factory PRC. The chamber in your rifle will effect the velocity you get out of factory ammo. You can hot rod the Creedmoor, or you can hot rod the PRC. give the same pressure PRC wins. You can hot rod the SAUM and it it beats both of them. Performance at a cost of course. Otherwise I would be running a 50bmg necked down to 6.5mm.
And then get 500 rounds before you burned out the barrel? :)
 
Barrels are cheap. A 147 @ 3150 or !50 @ 3100 sounds fun Lol (28 inch barrel )
 
Update--24" Bartlein was getting 2828 fps with factory 147 ammo--now sped up to about 2850.
Reloading same barrel with 58.5 H1000 147 ELDM gets about 2950 with no pressure signs. That's better!
 
You should contact Hornady w that lot number. Maybe they are undercharged. Lots of guys getting published or above published velocity w the factory 147. Do you have a 2nd crono to compare?
 
She’s ready, hopefully she does more then 2900 with the factory stuff because I’m not reloading
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Velocity of factory ammo will be dependent upon the reamer used. In my rifle 147s jump a mile, and velocity is on the low side of advertised. A tighter chamber would certainly be faster.

Pusher591, that rifle is beautiful!
 
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Update--24" Bartlein was getting 2828 fps with factory 147 ammo--now sped up to about 2850.
Reloading same barrel with 58.5 H1000 147 ELDM gets about 2950 with no pressure signs. That's better!
That sounds like what I’d expect the cartridge to do. How did it shoot though? My biggest complaint with h1000 is how bad it gunks up a suppressor in a hurry.
 
It shoots pretty good-about .75 MOA with no tuning at all and a brand new barrel. I did shoot it suppressed with a TB Ultra 7, but not enough to tell how dirty it is yet, so I will keep an eye on that.

What was most notable to me was the lack of recoil—the factory was very mild and almost indistinguishable from 6.5 Creedmoor (I guess it was barely going faster LOL), and the handloads had a little more thump like a .308.
 
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It shoots pretty good-about .75 MOA with no tuning at all and a brand new barrel. I did shoot it suppressed with a TB Ultra 7, but not enough to tell how dirty it is yet, so I will keep an eye on that.

What was most notable to me was the lack of recoil—the factory was very mild and almost indistinguishable from 6.5 Creedmoor (I guess it was barely going faster LOL), and the handloads had a little more thump like a .308.
Sounds about right on the recoil. I shot less than 100 rounds of 7saum using h1000 and the buildup was insane. I was breaking large chunks off. I had almost zero build up after more than 1000 rounds of creed with 4350 and a variety of 223 ammo with varget and 335. Never again unless I’m just using a brake.

https://thunderbeastarms.com/forum/threads/any-powders-not-recommended-for-tbac-suppressors.413/